Some politicians and individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have spoken out against Deputy President William Ruto’s claims that the Central African country does not have a single cow within its boundaries.
Ruto made the remarks during a session with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on Monday in Nyeri, when he mentioned the DRC, implying that the country’s dairy goods have a market.
“Na tuko na soko kuanzia hapa DRC hawa watu wako na 90 million people hawana hata ng’ombe moja na tuko na soko kuanzia hapa DRC hawa watu wako na 90 million people hawana hata ng’ombe moja na tuko na Hello, DRC, watu wa kuimba… (And we have a market starting from DRC.) sijui anaitwa Kanda Bongo man nani nani
The country has ninety million people and they do not have even one cow.
This DRC, these people who are good at singing like Kanda Bongo man),” Ruto said.
DP Ruto’s comments have elicited mixed reactions from a section of leaders from DRC and within
Ambassador Francine Furaha Muyumba, Senator of Congo’s Haut Katanga Province termed the comments from Ruto as an “insult’’ to one of Kenya’s business partners calling on him to withdraw the statement.
“Mr. Vice President William Ruto, this is really unacceptable, with all due respect there is a need to withdraw this statement. If DRC did not have a single cow how could KENYA sign economic deals with DRC, EquityBCDC is currently making money in Congo, this an insult,” Muyumba said in her Twitter account.
Muyumba urged Ruto to be conscious of the diplomatic relations adding that there was need for Kenya to strengthen relations in the region for the sake of economic growth.
“We are friends to KENYA, A candidate running for the highest office of the Country William Ruto need to be diplomatically conscious as KENYA need to strengthen economic ties in the region for Kenya’s internal Economic growth. Kenya Airways is now flying in some of our big cities,” she added.
John Nsana Kanyoni, Lawyer and vice President Chamber of Mines of the DRC posted a video of cows in response to DP’s comments saying DRC has a lot to offer.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir William Ruto. Masisi DRC, Izo ni ngombe zetu We have over 400 000 cows in Masisi alone, not to include Ituri, South Kivu, Tanganyika, and Haut-Katanga. Sisi tutafanya kazi na Kenya vizuri sisi tutafanya kazi na Kenya vizuri sisi tutafanya In the region, we have a lot to share. Kanyoni tweeted, “Our land is one of the nicest in the region.”
Jacques Sebisaho, CEO of Amani Global Works, a DRC-based non-governmental organization, has vowed to stop doing business with Equity Bank until Kenya apologizes.
In a tweet, he stated, “We have advised all of our colleagues who have an account with Equity Bank that we will not undertake any more transactions with this bank until the DRC receives an apology from the Kenyan government.”